CHAPTER XII—(Continued). SERGEANT SILAS USHER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2218, 25 September 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER Xll— (Continued). SERGEANT SILAS USHER.

Having further ascertained that Mr Marliuson had telegraphed to Dr Ingleby, at Biutnborouirh, Inspector Thresher, after a little reflection, thought that the best thing he could to was to communicate in the same way with Scotland Yard, as the apprehension of Mr Foxborough must undoubtedly devolve upon the London police. By this time, it may be supposed, the news of the murder had spread through all Bunbury and created a profound sensation, for the town clerk •was known to most of the leadiu<? citizens more or leas, and there is something thrilling when one we have known comes to a tragical ending in our mid>t. People ■congregated in knots on the promenade, and discussed the details of the murder as far as they had yet transpired in sub■dued voices, and those who could recall ,having seen the mysterious stranger were in great request and eager queitioued. .As for William Gibbons he was quite •overwhelmed with pints of ale and his ■own popularity. As a rule Bunbury was not wont to exhibit much .solicitude .•about the thirst of William, but at present they seemed in a conspiracy to quench it if practicable, and it may be here remarked that William, when it came to sound ale, would have bothered a garden engine on that score. Joe Marlinson had turned remarkably sulky over the whole affair, refused to talk .about it, «'md was evidently in high dudgeon that anybody should havo had the presumption to commit such a tei'rible crime in an old well -established country house like the Hopbine. Regiet for poor John Fo-ndyke seemed to be biibraerged in the old man by the indignation occasioned by the tragedy having occurred at the Hopbine. Listening to his angry .muttering one could almost believe that there were inns kept expressly in which 'to make away with one's follow creatures, .and once again was reminded that from ttime immemorial the absurdly grotesque is runniug close alongside the .sadde.^ ■catastrophes. The evening brought two men to Bunbury, who arrived there from opposite directions. The first was Dr. Ingleby, who had heard the whole story of 'the 'ourder of his old friend while ■waiting p or the train upon Baumborough olatfon and Phil Soames, who in his t im ha,, learnt it from the guard who h a d .com by the previous train from Bunbury an. who had charge of a retriever for th.it gentleman ; the meeting of which -an "nal indeed was the cause of Phirs presence on tho station. * I haren't time to think much abont it ' exclaimed t)r Ingleby. ■ I must go on to the Hopbine, though I shall come back by the next train. From what you tell me my presence tbere is useless, and I shall be more wanted at Dyke. But, Phil you must do so metnin g" for me - Mrs' Fossdyke must not be left to learn these awful tidings by chance— and now the news is once in Baumborough no one cian say when it will reach her. You must go out to Dyke and break it. No pleasant task I'm setting you, my boy ; but I've known you irom a child, and 1 lmow your true grit. I think, perhaps, ff Tou broke if first to Mis 8 Hyde it would be best. She is a steady, sensible girl that, and I havo an idea would come out in an emergency like this Goodbye, and use your own discretion as to hbw, but mind it must be told. Here's tb ? Goodbye, and trust me to do my best, Anctor" rejoined Phil; 'though God knows'lt' I terrible task you've set me.' Cived at Bunbury, Dr Ingleby drove

straight to the Hopbine, whero ho was cordially received by old Marlinson. • Course I know you'd oomc, doctor, and I dare say heard the awful tiowri buf jto you srot here. It's dreadful to think of poor Lawyer BVssdyko bcinff murdered at all, but that the infernal scoundrel should have the audacity to lure him to the Hopbine, of all places in the world, boats me. Ordered the best of everything in tho house, too, and turned up his nose at my old port. I ought to have known he waa no fit company for the Hopbine by that." >r „ 'NiH'or mind that -just now, M.irhuson. I want to take a last look at my old friend, and then I must hurry b.ielc to Baumborough. Remember that those near and dear to him have to hear all about this, and it will bo a dre.idful blow to them. Poor Miss Fossdyko was wonderfully attached to her husbind, and will feel it bitterly.' • Come this way, sir. I nllow no one into the room, according with Mr Thresher's orders." Ho lays a pood deal of stress on the London men whom ho expects down, seeing it exactly ns ho found it, and taking a candle Marlinson led the way. The room was just as it had been when first burst into, with the exception that the dead man had been lifted from the floor, laid reverently on the bed, and covered with a sheet. Dr. Ingleby drew back the cloth from over the face, and ga/.ed sadly upon the features of his unfortunate friend, placed his fingers mechanically on the heart, and then peered down the small clear cut through whirh a man's life had welled. He knew John Fo.*sdykewas dead ; it was evident to his practised eye that stab had killed him. What motive could John Fossdyke's murderer have had 2 • From what I'm told, you knew Mr Fossdyke well, and cau perhapß, therefore, clear up at once the first iinportaht fact in the case, Dr. Ingleby,' said a voice at his elbow, which made him start, and then he became aware of two other figures in the room, and turned sharply to survey them. One he at once recognised as Inspector Thresher, chief of the Bunbury police force—the other, and it was he who had spoken, was a little wiry, grizele- 1 haired man, clean shaved, and dressed in most ordinary fashion, with a pair of restless bright hazel eyes that seemed wandering in all directions. ' I'm Silas Usher, Criminal Investigation Department, Scotland Yard, 1 continued the little grey man, 'and I'm in charge of this murder. 1 have heard the rough particulars irom my friend, Inspector Thresher, and must be back in town by the night train. I'm always open about what I'm driving at ; odd that you'll &ay for a man of my profession, but I find nothing pays better. I tell people I want to know the way to Ramsgate say, having told them who I am. Well, this is the result, those who are straight give me all the information they can, those who are not, imagine at once I want to go to Margate, and are therefore profuse also in their information with regard to the road to Ramsgate." It is superfluous to observe that Sergeant Silas Usher by no means conducted his enquiries with this primitive simplicty. He waa indeed one of the most astute officers in the force, having strongly pronounced that first great faculty of the detective policeman, rapid inductive reasoning. ' And what, Mr Usher, is the question you wish to ask me?' enquired Dr. Ingleby. ' This, sir. I want you to see the dagger with which Mr Fossdyke was slain, and tell me whether you recognise it as his.' ' You see, sometimes,' added Mr Usher, 1 when we are called in this way the first thing to ascertain is whether there has been a murder committed at all. Lotsot times when people are missing their friends rush to the conclusion they are murdered, and it very soon turns out they are all alive, though not doing exactly what they ought. In a case like this my experience tells me the first cry will be murder naturally ; but there is a great probability of its being suicide. Still what looks like clearing that question up is the weapon that caused death. I have seen it down at Thresher s place, and it is peculiar. I don't mean to say there never was one like it, but they would be decidedly rarely met with. Some of Mr Fossdyke's relatives and friends must know if he owned such a dagger. If he did it may be fairly presumed a case of suicide ; if, on the other hand, no one ever saw such a weapon in his possession, it is fair to argue the other way and presume it is murder, and the peculiarity of the weapon is a strong clue to the ultimate Sliding of the murderer.' ' Well, I've not seen it yet,' rejoined Dr. Ingleby. •I know, sir,' interrupted Mr Usher, 'but you will just call in at Thresher's place on the way to the train. Can't delay you two minutes, mere question whether you recognise that dagger as the property of deceased or not. Of course, your answer in the negative would not be final, but if some of his friends recognise it I should very much doubt there being any murder at all about the business.' Once more did Dr. Ingleby turn and look sorrowfully at the features of his energetic and somewhat combative triend, whose determination and fluent tongue would never men more, then gently drawing the sheet over the face, he announced himself in readiness to accompany Sergeant Usher to the police office. Upon being shown the "dagger he at once said that he had never seen it before. He had been very intimate with the deceased, and had been a constant visitor to his house, but he had never set eyes upon the weapon in question. He was quite sure if he had ever seeu it he couldn't have forgotten it. 'Thi3Mr Foxborough, may I ask if you ever saw or heard of him ?' 'I not only never saw Shim, but have no recollection of ever hearing such a name in my life,' replied Dr. Ingleby, ' but it is fair to tell you that Mr Fossdyke had business connections with many people of whom neither his family nor friends knew anything, He was a man reticent in business matters, as men ot his profession are bound to be. Nobody employs a gabbling solicitor.' • Thank you, sir ; that's all I want to know at present. Our people whom I have informed by telegraph will, what we call, reckon up all the Foxboroughs in London in the next torty-eight hours. I anti taking up a tolerable accurate verbal picture of the one who was here, but the key of the whole thing I fancy is not to be found in Bunbury.' ' Not to be found here, 1 ejaculated Inspector Thresher, ' why, you have got witnesses to identity and all the rest in the town. You've only got to find the man.' • That's just it, my good friend, and the clue to his whereabouts don't seem to be in Bunbury.' Dr. Ingleby looked hard at the speaker es he said quietly — 11 1 should have thought you would have traced him from this place most rapidly ?' • Ferhaps you are right,' replied Sergeant Usher, 'but I'm a big-headed sort of a man who can only reckon up matters my own way. But it's time I was off to the station, and you also, sir.' Tne two accordingly made their way to the railway, and after the two policemen had seen Dr. Ingleby off to Baumborough, Inspector Thresher bade fare-

well to his professional brother as the up train for London ran into the station. ' You'll be down again for tho inquest, of courso V remarked Thresher, as he shook hands. 1 Yes, but I tell you candidly I don't think we shall make much out of that : but there's no saying. Good-bye.